The Hidden Energy Cost of Masking in DID and OSDD
Many people with DID and OSDD feel exhausted after work, socializing, appointments, or even brief interactions. This exhaustion is often more than they would expect for the activity and it…
Why Your Experiences Don’t Seem to Make Sense
You’ve noticed that something is happening and you can’t explain it. On their own, the experiences seem explainable, but taken as a whole, they just don’t make sense. You may…
Why Your Experiences Can Feel Inconsistent or Contradictory
You may have had the experience of feeling like different versions of yourself at different times. This inconsistency might feel confusing or unsettling. While you might be worried that this…
Why Triggers Can Activate Without Conscious Awareness
It is a common experience for trauma survivors to realize they’ve been triggered (reacted to something) without understanding why. Reacting without understanding why or without intention can be a helpless…
Why It Can Be Hard to Recognize Your Own Trauma
Sometimes, people who have survived trauma deny that they ever experienced any. It’s not because they are trying to protect themselves; it’s because they don’t recognize that some of their…
Why Healing Can Feel Worse Before It Feels Better
Many people expect healing to feel steadily better over time. Because of this, it can be frightening or discouraging when symptoms suddenly feel more noticeable, emotions feel stronger, or functioning…
Perfectionism as a Survival Strategy
Perfectionism is often treated as a personality flaw: something rigid, excessive, or self-defeating. But for many trauma survivors, perfectionism didn’t start as a preference. It started as a way to…
How to Recognize when You’re Dissociating
Sometimes people expect dissociation to be obvious or dramatic. In reality, it often feels subtle or familiar. It can be easy to miss. It’s not something that is always noticed…
What Does It Mean to Have “Parts” of Yourself?
You may have heard people talk about having “parts” of themselves. For some people, that idea feels confusing or even concerning. It can raise questions like: Does this mean something…
Why Do I Lose Time Without Realizing It?
Many people expect memory loss to feel obvious. Instead, it often feels like: “I just ended up here” “I don’t remember how time passed” “I must have just been distracted”…